For as long as there has been insurance, there has been insurance fraud. Fraud occurs in every line of insurance, and while it’s difficult to say exactly how much it costs the industry every year—fraud is, after all, designed to be undetectable—estimates are in the billions, according to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud []. Here are a few typical types of fraud that occur in a variety of insurance lines. Continue reading →

f you’re an insurance agent, you’re either captive or independent. Captive agents work only for one parent company and sell only that company’s line of insurance. Independent, or non-captive, agents sell policies from a variety of carriers. There are pros and cons to both—and if you’re considering going into the insurance agency, here are a few things to consider when deciding which path is best for you.

Continue reading →

Let’s face it—the insurance industry has faced public relations problems for decades. From the image of the pushy door-to-door insurance salesman to constant media coverage of questionable practices by insurers, it’s no wonder the public harbors a certain amount of distrust for the industry. As an insurance agent, you can dramatically increase your business by getting your customers to trust you—but for many, it’s an uphill battle. Here are a few ways you can establish trust with your customers.

Continue reading →

Simply put, when the stock market goes down, insurance rates usually go up. That’s because most insurance companies invest in the markets to raise profits. When their investments go down, the companies raise premiums to offset the loss.

Continue reading →

Last month we talked about establishing a web presence for your insurance business—and now we’ll delve deeper into it by taking a closer look at Facebook, an integral part of your online marketing strategy.

Continue reading →